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My doctor says my cholesterol is too high, and she wants me to take medicine to control it. I want to see if I can control it with diet, though, and she suggested that a vegetarian diet might help. I don't know how to start eating this way healthfully — can you help me?

— Jan, Washington, D.C.

The best way to start a vegetarian diet is to see a dietitian for information. You may be able to lower your cholesterol by avoiding red meat while still eating fish, eggs, and low-fat dairy foods. If you opt to become a vegan — someone who eats only plant-based foods — it can be very difficult to maintain your vitamin B12 and folate levels, so you may need to take supplements. The best way to lower cholesterol levels is to avoid fried foods, desserts, and red meat. Make sure that most of the fat you consume is in the form of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.

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